Systems and methods for assisting with color selection

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for color selection are provided. A user device displays room types on a display, receives a room type selection indicating a particular room type, displays types of feelings, and receives a type of feeling selection indicating a particular type of feeling. The user device accesses a lookup table that associates the room types and types of feelings with paint colors such that each possible combination of room type and type of feeling is associated with a subset of paint colors. The user device determines the associated subset of paint colors in the lookup table for the combination of the particular room type and the particular type of feeling and displays the associated subset of paint colors as recommended paint colors for the combination of the particular room type and the particular type of feeling on the display of the user device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/062,915, filed Oct. 5, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/003,776 filed on Jun. 8, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,824,317. This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/519,641, filed on Jun. 14, 2017. The entiredisclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to color selection and, moreparticularly, to color selection of paint colors based on a userinputted type of room to be painted and one or more user inputtedpurposes for the room to be painted.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

Consumers typically begin a new painting project because of a desire forchange. This typically stems from wanting a new look, wanting to changethe feeling of a room, being tired of the old look, boredom, seeing aninterior elsewhere, e.g., model home tour, friend's house, magazinephoto, etc.,

The home painting process typically starts with color selection, whichcan be an emotional part of the process. Many consumers are concernedwith making a mistake in the color selection process. Consequently, thecolor selection process can take several months to years to complete asthe user settles on a color.

Current systems for color selection allow a consumer to browse andselect particular colors electronically using, for example, a kiosk, awebsite, a web application, a mobile application, etc. For example, acolor selection and coordination system that allows a user to select astarting color and that provides coordinating colors for the startingcolor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,629, titled “Data-driven colorcoordinator,” which is incorporated herein by reference. For furtherexample, an automated method and apparatus for providing color selectioncapability is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,530,163, titled “AutomatedColor Selection Method and Apparatus,” which is also incorporated hereinby reference.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present disclosure provides a system comprising a user deviceconfigured to receive a room type selection from a plurality of roomtypes displayed on a display of the user device, to receive a purposeselection from a plurality of purposes displayed on the user device, todetermine a plurality of recommended paint colors based on the room typeselection and the purpose selection, and to display the plurality ofrecommended paint colors on the display of the user device. Thedetermination of the plurality of recommended paint colors is made witha lookup table that associates particular room types and purposes withrecommended paint colors.

In some configurations, the lookup table is stored in a databaseaccessible by a server and wherein the user device is further configuredto send the room type selection and the purpose selection to the serverand to receive the plurality of recommended paint colors from theserver.

In some configurations, the lookup table is stored on the user deviceand the user device is further configured to determine the plurality ofrecommended paint colors based on the room type selection, the purposeselection, and the lookup table.

In some configurations, the user device is further configured to receivean additional purpose selection from the plurality of purposes and todetermine the plurality of recommended paint colors based on the purposeselection, the additional purpose selection, and the room typeselection.

In some configurations, the plurality of recommended paint colors aredisplayed in a webpage within a web browser of the user device.

In some configurations, the user device is at least one of a mobiledevice and a tablet and wherein the plurality of recommended paintcolors are displayed in a mobile application.

In some configurations, the user device is further configured to receivea color selection of at least one selected paint color from theplurality of recommended paint colors and to determine and display atleast one of a coordinating color and a coordinating color palette forthe at least one selected paint color.

In another form, the present disclosure provides a method that includesreceiving, with a user device, a room type selection from a plurality ofroom types displayed on a display of the user device. The method alsoincludes receiving, with the user device, a purpose selection from aplurality of purposes displayed on the user device. The method alsoincludes determining, with the user device, a plurality of recommendedpaint colors based on the room type selection and the purpose selection.The method also includes displaying, with the user device, the pluralityof recommended paint colors on the display of the user device. Thedetermination of the plurality of recommended paint colors is made witha lookup table that associates particular room types and purposes withrecommended paint colors.

In some configurations, the lookup table is stored in a databaseaccessible by a server and the method further includes sending, with theuser device, the room type selection and the purpose selection to theserver and receiving, with the user device, the plurality of recommendedpaint colors from the server.

In some configurations, the lookup table is stored on the user deviceand the method also includes determining, with the user device, theplurality of recommended paint colors based on the room type selection,the purpose selection, and the lookup table.

In some configurations, the method includes receiving, with the userdevice an additional purpose selection from the plurality of purposesand determining, with the user device, the plurality of recommendedpaint colors based on the purpose selection, the additional purposeselection, and the room type selection.

In some configurations, the plurality of recommended paint colors aredisplayed in a webpage within a web browser of the user device.

In some configurations, the user device is at least one of a mobiledevice and a tablet and wherein the plurality of recommended paintcolors are displayed in a mobile application.

In some configurations, the method also includes receiving, with theuser device, a color selection of at least one selected paint color fromthe plurality of recommended paint colors and determining anddisplaying, with the user device, at least one of a coordinating colorand a coordinating color palette for the at least one selected paintcolor.

In another form, the present disclosure provides a system that includesa web server configured to provide code to a user device. The codeconfigures the user device to receive a room type selection from aplurality of room types displayed on a display of the user device, toreceive a purpose selection from a plurality of purposes displayed onthe user device, to determine a plurality of recommended paint colorsbased on the room type selection and the purpose selection, and todisplay the plurality of recommended paint colors on the display of theuser device. The determination of the plurality of recommended paintcolors is made with a lookup table that associates particular room typesand purposes with recommended paint colors.

In some configurations, the lookup table is stored in a databaseaccessible by a server and wherein the code further configures the userdevice to send the room type selection and the purpose selection to theserver and to receive the plurality of recommended paint colors from theserver.

In some configurations, the lookup table is included in the codeprovided to the user device and wherein the code further configures theuser device to determine the plurality of recommended paint colors basedon the room type selection, the purpose selection, and the lookup table.

In some configurations, the code further configures the user device toreceive an additional purpose selection from the plurality of purposesand to determine the plurality of recommended paint colors based on thepurpose selection, the additional purpose selection, and the room typeselection.

In some configurations, the code is executed by the user device within aweb browser of the user device.

In some configurations, the user device is at least one of a mobiledevice and a tablet and wherein the plurality of recommended paintcolors are displayed in a mobile application.

In some configurations, the code further configures the user device toreceive a color selection of at least one selected paint color from theplurality of recommended paint colors and to determine and display atleast one of a coordinating color and a coordinating color palette forthe at least one selected paint color.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of another color selection system accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a lookup table for a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a screenshot of a color selection system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for a color selection method according to thepresent disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure includes color selection systems and methods thatprovide recommended paint colors for a user based on the user's responseto questions regarding the type of room to be painted and regarding thepurpose or types of feelings the user would like to be associated withthe particular room. Based on the user's responses, the systems andmethods provide recommended paint colors for the particular project. Thecolor selection systems and methods can also provide coordinating colorsand color palettes for one or more particular colors selected from therecommended paint colors. Once particular colors have been selected, thecolor selection systems and methods can also be integrated with othercolor coordination systems and methods that allow the user to view theparticular colors in a simulated environment. For example, colorcoordination systems and methods that enable a user to view particularcolors in a simulated environment are described in U.S. Pat. No.7,230,629, titled “Data-driven color coordinator,” which is incorporatedherein by reference. The color selection systems and methods of thepresent disclosure can also enable a user to order samples of particularpaint colors and save information associated with the particular paintcolors, such as color names and identification codes, on a server forlater retrieval by the user. The color selection systems and methods ofthe present disclosure can also enable a user to initiate a chat sessionwith a paint expert to discuss any questions the user may have regardingthe particular paint colors.

With reference to FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a color selection system10 according to the present disclosure is shown. The color selectionsystem 10 includes a server 12 and a user device 14 in communicationover a network 16. The network 16 may be a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), such as the internet. The server 12 is incommunication with, and has access to, a color database 18. The colordatabase 18, for example, may be a database of paint colors.

The server 12 may be a web server with one or more processors and withmemory that stores content, such as webpages in Hypertext MarkupLanguage (HTML), accessible to the user device 14 via a web browser thatnavigates to a website associated with the web server. For furtherexample, the color selection system 10 according to the presentdisclosure may be implemented within a web application, whereby theserver 12 provides code for the web application to the user device 14and the web application runs in a web browser of the user device 14.Additionally or alternatively, the color selection system 10 accordingto the present disclosure may be implemented with a standaloneapplication that runs on the user device 14 outside of a browser whilecommunicating with the server 12. Additionally or alternatively, thecolor selection system 10 according to the present disclosure may beimplemented with a mobile application that runs on a mobile deviceand/or a tablet device. The server 12 includes a network communicationmodule to communicate with the user device 14 over the network 16.

The user device 14 is a computing device with input devices, such as akeyboard and a mouse, and a display device such as a display screen.Additionally or alternatively, the user device 14 may include a touchscreen device that both receives user input and displays output. Theuser device includes one or more processors and memory. The memory ofthe user device 14 may store code for a web browser that accesses andretrieves content from websites, such as the website associated with theserver 12. The memory of the user device 14 may also store code for amobile application that provides the functionality of the colorselection systems and methods of the present disclosure. The user device14 may include a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, and/or a mobiledevice, such as a smartphone. With reference to FIG. 1B, an example ofthe color selection system 10 of the present disclosure is shown with atablet or mobile device 15. The user device 14 and the tablet or mobiledevice 15 also include a network communication module to communicatewith the server 12 over the network 16.

With reference to FIG. 2 , a screenshot of a first page 20 of a colorselection system 10 according to the present disclosure is shown. Thefirst page 20 may be a webpage displayed within a web browser.Alternatively, the first page 20 may be a page of a mobile application.The first page is displayed on a display of the user device 14. Thefirst page 20 includes a color browsing section 22 whereby a user canbrowse paint colors by color families. For example, a user can select aparticular color family from a column 24 of color families. Once aparticular color family is selected, individual paint colors 26associated with the selected color family are shown and a user canselect an individual paint color to access additional information aboutthe individual paint color, to view coordinating colors or colorpalettes for the individual paint color, to view the individual paintcolor in a simulated environment, etc. As an alternative to browsing andselecting individual paint colors in this manner, the first page 20 alsoincludes a link 28 to a color selection tool according to the presentdisclosure. While a specific example first page 20 is shown in FIG. 2 ,any other configurations or layouts of the first page 20 canalternatively be used, with the link 28 to the color selection toolprovided somewhere on the first page 20 for the user to access andselect/click. Once the user clicks the link 28 to the color selectiontool, a second page 30 (shown in FIG. 3 ) is displayed on the display ofthe user device 14.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the second page 30 is an introductory webpagefor the color selection tool of the present disclosure. The second page30 may be a webpage displayed within a web browser. Alternatively, thesecond page 30 may be a page of a mobile application. In the example ofFIG. 3 , the user can initiate the color selection tool by clicking onthe “Get Started” link 32. Once the user initiates the color selectiontool by clicking on the “Get Started” link 32, a third page 40 (shown inFIG. 4 ) is displayed on the display of the user device 14.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the third page 40 displays a group ofpredetermined room types 42 for selection and prompts the user to selecta particular room type from the group of predetermined room types 42.The third page 40 may be a webpage displayed within a web browser.Alternatively, the third page 40 may be a page of a mobile application.In the example of FIG. 4 , the group of predetermined room types 42includes “Living Room,” “Kitchen,” “Dining Room,” “Bathroom,” “MasterBedroom,” “Child's Room,” “Hall or Foyer,” “Office or Study,” and“Family & Rec Room.” While these nine room types are shown as an examplein FIG. 4 , any number of room types may be used. Once the user selectsa particular room type from the predetermined room types 42, a fourthpage 50 (shown in FIG. 5 ) is displayed on the display of the userdevice 14. In the example of FIG. 5 , the “Living Room” room type hasbeen selected from the group of predetermined room types 42.

With reference to FIG. 5 , the fourth page 50 prompts the user to selecta “Primary Purpose” or primary feeling for the particular room anddisplays a predetermined group of different purposes or types offeelings 52 that could be evoked by the particular room for selection.The fourth page 50 may be a webpage displayed within a web browser.Alternatively, the fourth page 50 may be a page of a mobile application.For example, the fourth page prompts the user to select a particularpurpose or feeling that user would like to be associated with theparticular room once it is painted. In the example of FIG. 5 , thedifferent purposes or types of feelings 52 include “Warm & Friendly,”“Relaxation & Calming,” “Trendy & Stylish,” “Bold & Dramatic,” and“Versatile.” While the example of FIG. 5 provides five differentpurposes or types of feelings 52, any number of purposes or types offeelings could be used. In addition, while the example of FIG. 5provides different purposes or types of feelings 52 for the particularroom for selection, any type of descriptive phrase or term could beadditionally or alternatively be used. The page 50 prompts the user withthe phrase “I want my Living Room to feel ______.” The user can thenselect one of the particular purposes or feelings to complete thatsentence as the room's “Primary Purpose” or primary feeling. Once theuser selects a particular type of feeling from the group of differenttypes of feelings 52, a fifth page 60 (shown in FIG. 6 ) is displayed onthe display device of the user device 14. In the example of FIG. 6 ,“Relaxation & Calming” has been selected as the “Primary Purpose.” Basedon the selection, the icon for “Relaxation & Calming” has been grayedout, as shown in FIG. 6 , to indicate that it has already been selected.

With reference to FIG. 6 , the fifth page 60 prompts the user to selectan “Additional Purpose” or secondary feeling for the particular room anddisplays the predetermined group of different purposes or types offeelings 52 that could be evoked by the particular room for selection,except the previously selected feeling is grayed out. The fifth page 60may be a webpage displayed within a web browser. Alternatively, thefifth page 60 may be a page of a mobile application. The user can thenselect a second feeling from the remainder of the predetermined group ofdifferent purposes or types of feelings 52. The user can also skip theselection of an “Additional Purpose” or secondary feeling by selectingthe “Skip & Continue” button 62.

Once the user either makes the additional purpose or feeling selectionor presses the “Skip & Continue” button 62, the user device 14communicates the selected room type, the selected primary purposefeeling, and the selected additional purpose feeling (if any) to theserver 12. The server 12 then accesses the color database 18 todetermine the predetermined paint colors associated with the user'sselections. For example, the color database 18 stores a lookup tablethat associates one or more paint colors with each room type andpurpose/feeling type combination available for selection. In this way,each possible combination of room type and purpose/feeling type has anentry in the lookup table indicating one or more predetermined paintcolors associated with that particular combination of room type andpurpose/feeling type. Once the predetermined paint colors associatedwith the user's selections are retrieved from the color database 18, theserver 12 communicates the predetermined paint colors to the user device14 for display and presentation to the user as the recommended paintcolors. Additionally or alternatively, the server 12 may initiallycommunicate the lookup table to the user device 14 at outset when thecolor selection process is initiated. For example, the server 12 maycommunicate the lookup table to the user device 14 when the initial codefor the initial webpage of the system is provided. Alternatively, if thecolor selection system 10 is implemented using a mobile application, thelookup table may be included in the code for the mobile application andprovided to the user device 14 at the time the mobile application isinstalled on the user device 14. In this way, the user device 14 canaccess the lookup table and determine the recommended colors for theselected room type and feelings without the need for additionalcommunication back to the server 12.

With reference to FIG. 7 , a portion of an example lookup table 70 isshown. In the example of FIG. 7 , the lookup table entries for the“Living Room” room type are shown. More specifically, five predeterminedpaint colors are shown associated with each of the possiblepurpose/feeling type selections. While the example of FIG. 7 only showsthe lookup table entries for the “Living Room” room type, the lookuptable would also include similar entries for each of the other possibleroom type selections, i.e., “Kitchen,” “Dining Room,” “Bathroom,”“Master Bedroom,” “Child's Room,” “Hall or Foyer,” “Office or Study,”and “Family & Rec Room,” etc.

As an example using the example lookup table 70 of FIG. 7 , when the“Living Room” room type is selected and the “Relaxation & Calming”purpose/feeling type is selected, the lookup table provides thefollowing predetermined five colors as the recommended colors:“Rejuvenation,” “Breath,” “Fresh Tone,” “Journeys End,” and “HazyTrail.” As another example, when the “Living Room” room type is selectedand the “Warm & Friendly” purpose/feeling type is selected, the lookuptable provides the following predetermined five colors as therecommended colors: “Dry Brown,” “Spice,” “Oregano Spice,” “Cork,” andCasual Khaki.” As further shown in FIG. 7 , the example lookup table 70stores both the color name and the color code for each of the paintcolors.

With reference again to FIG. 6 , once the user either makes anadditional feeling selection or presses the “Skip & Continue” button 62,a sixth page 80 (shown in FIG. 8 ) is displayed on the display device ofthe user device 14. In the example of FIG. 8 , the user selected “Warm &Friendly” as the additional purpose or feeling.

With reference to FIG. 8 , the sixth page 80 displays recommended paintcolors based on the user's previous selections. The sixth page 80 may bea webpage displayed within a web browser. Alternatively, the sixth page80 may be a page of a mobile application. In the example of FIG. 8 , theuser has selected: “Living Room” as the room type; “Relaxation &Calming” as the primary purpose or feeling; and “Warm & Friendly” as thesecondary purpose or feeling. As discussed above with reference to FIG.7 , the predetermined colors associated with the “Living Room” room typeand the “Relaxation & Calming” feeling type are: “Rejuvenation,”“Breath,” “Fresh Tone,” “Journeys End,” and “Hazy Trail.” As shown inFIG. 8 , those five recommended colors are displayed in a first row 82of the recommended colors. As further discussed above with reference toFIG. 7 , the predetermined colors associated with the “Living Room” roomtype and the “Warm & Friendly” feeling type are: “Dry Brown,” “Spice,”“Oregano Spice,” “Cork,” and Casual Khaki.” As shown in FIG. 8 , thosefive recommended colors are displayed in a second row 84 of therecommended colors. As further shown in FIG. 8 , the sixth page 80 thenprompts the user to select particular colors from the group ofrecommended colors. In the example of FIG. 8 , ten recommended colorsare shown and the user is prompted to select up to three colors from thegroup of ten recommended colors. Once the user selects particular colorsfrom the group of recommended colors, a seventh page 90 (shown in FIG. 9) is displayed on the display of the user device 14.

With reference to FIG. 9 , the seventh page 90 displays the particularcolors 92 selected by the user from the group of recommended colors. Theseventh page 90 may be a webpage displayed within a web browser.Alternatively, the seventh page 90 may be a page of a mobileapplication. In the example of FIG. 9 , the colors “Journey's End,”Breathe,” and “Rejuvenation” have been selected from the group of tenrecommended colors and are displayed for the user. The seventh page 90also prompts the user to click on an individual color to seecoordinating color palettes for the individual color, to order samplesof the individual color, to virtually paint a room (i.e., a simulatedenvironment showing the individual paint color), or live chat with anexpert regarding the individual color. Once the user selects anindividual color, an eighth page 100 (shown in FIG. 10 ) is displayed onthe display of the user device 14.

With reference to FIG. 10 , the eighth page 100 displays a particularindividual paint color selected from the previous group of three paintcolors. The eighth page 100 may be a webpage displayed within a webbrowser. Alternatively, the eighth page 100 may be a page of a mobileapplication. In the example of FIG. 10 , the paint color “Journey's End”has been selected and is displayed. In addition, multiple coordinatingcolor palettes 102 for the selected paint color are shown. In theexample of FIG. 10 , two coordinating color palettes 102 are shown andthe user can select an arrow to the right to view additionalcoordinating color palettes 102. The eighth page 100 also provides alink 104 to “Paint My Place,” which enables the user to view theselected paint color in a simulated environment, such as a picture of aliving room, as described, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,629, titled“Data-driven color coordinator,” which is incorporated herein byreference. The eighth page 100 also provides a link 106, which enablesthe user to save the selected color for later retrieval. For example,the selected color and/or the color palettes can be saved on the server12 associated with a user identification of the particular user. In thisway, the user can logon to the system at a later time and retrieve anysaved colors. The eighth page 100 also provides a link 108, whichenables the user to order a sample of the selected color. The eighthpage 100 also provides a link 110, which initiates a chat session withan expert. The expert, for example, can answer any questions from theuser about the particular color, about the designated coordinatingcolors, about the paint project in general, etc. The eighth webpage 100also provides a link 112, which enables the user to close the window forthe currently selected color and return to the selection of colors shownin FIG. 9 .

Throughout the process described above with reference to FIGS. 4 through10 , the user can select a “Start Over” link 114 to restart the colorselection process from the beginning. The user can also select one ofthe links 116 to return to a particular previous step in the colorselection process.

With reference to FIG. 11 , a flow chart for a color selection method1100 according to the present disclosure is illustrated. The method 1100can be executed by the user device 16 alone or in coordination with theserver 12 shown in FIG. 1A. For example, the method 1100 can be executedby the tablet or mobile device 15 alone or in coordination with theserver 12 shown in FIG. 1B. The method 1100 starts at 1102. At 1104, aroom selection is received by the user device. The room selection, forexample, may be received by a selection in the third page 40, asdiscussed in detail with reference to FIG. 4 above.

At 1106, a primary purpose or feeling selection is received by the userdevice 14. The primary purpose or feeling selection, for example, may bereceived by a selection in the fourth page 50, as discussed in detailwith reference to FIG. 5 above.

At 1108, an additional or secondary purpose or feeling selection isreceived by the user device 14. The additional or secondary purpose orfeeling selection, for example, may be received by a selection in thefifth page 60, as discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 6 above.

At 1110, the user device 14 retrieves the recommended colors associatedwith the selected room type, primary purpose or feeling, and theadditional or secondary purpose or feeling, if any. As discussed abovewith reference to FIG. 7 , the user device 14 may communicate the roomand purpose/feeling selections to the server 12 and the server mayaccess the color database 18 to retrieve the recommended colorsassociated with the room type and purpose/feeling selections.Additionally or alternatively, as discussed in detail above, the server12 may initially communicate the lookup table to the user device 14 atoutset when the color selection process is initiated. In this way, theuser device 14 can access the lookup table and determine the recommendedcolors for the selected room type and feelings without the need foradditional communication back to the server 12.

Once the recommended colors are received or determined, the user devicealso displays the recommended colors received from the server at 1110.The recommended colors, for example, may be displayed by the sixthwebpage 80, as discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 8 above.

At 1112, the user device 14 receives a selection of individual colorsfrom the group of recommended colors. The individual colors selectedfrom the group of recommended colors may be displayed, for example, bythe seventh webpage 90, as discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 9above.

At 1114, the user device 14 receives an individual color selection frompreviously selected group of colors. The selected individual color maybe displayed, for example, as discussed in detail with reference to FIG.10 above. At 1116, the user device 14 displays coordinating colorpalette(s) 102 for the selected individual color, as shown in FIG. 10 .For example, the color database 18 can store predetermined coordinatingcolors and color palette(s) for each paint color in the color database18. In this way, the server 12 can determine coordinating colors andcolor palette(s) for each paint color in the color database 18.Additionally or alternatively, the server 12 can communicate thecoordinating colors and color palette(s) to the user device 14 at theoutset. In such case, the user device 14 does not need to communicatewith the server 12 to determine coordinating colors and colorpalette(s). Additionally or alternatively, in the event a mobileapplication is used, the coordinating colors and color palette(s) can beprovided to the user device 14 with the code for the mobile application.

At 1118, the user device 14 displays an option for generating asimulated environment with colors from the color palette(s), includingthe individual selected color. As discussed in detail above, the eighthpage 100 provides a link 104 to “Paint My Place,” which enables the userto view the selected paint color in a simulated environment, such as apicture of a living room, as described, for example, U.S. Pat. No.7,230,629, titled “Data-driven color coordinator,” which is incorporatedherein by reference. At 1118, the user device 14 also displays an optionfor saving the color palette(s), including the individual selectedcolor. As discussed in detail above, the eighth page 100 provides a link106, which enables the user to save the selected color for laterretrieval. For example, the selected color and/or the color palettes canbe saved on the server 12 associated with a user identification of theparticular user. In this way, the user can logon to the system at alater time and retrieve any saved colors. At 1118, the user device 14also displays an option for ordering samples of the colors from thecolor palette(s), including the individual selected color. As discussedabove, the eighth page 100 provides a link 108, which enables the userto order a sample of the selected color. At 1118, the user device 14also displays an option for chatting with an expert. As discussed above,the eighth page 100 provides a link 110, which initiates a chat sessionwith an expert. The expert, for example, can answer any questions fromthe user about the particular color, about the designated coordinatingcolors, about the paint project in general, etc. At 1118, the userdevice 14 also displays an option for returning to the selection ofcolors from the recommended colors. As discussed above, the eighth page100 also provides a link 112, which enables the user to close the windowfor the currently selected color and return to the selection of colorsshown in FIG. 9 .

At 1120, the user device 14 proceeds with execution of the optionselected at step 1118. At 1122, the color selection method 1100 ends.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

The terms server, user device, and module may refer to, be part of, orinclude an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital,analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, ormixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit;a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor (shared, dedicated,or group) that executes code; memory (shared, dedicated, or group) thatstores code executed by a processor; other suitable hardware componentsthat provide the described functionality; or a combination of some orall of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.

The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/ormicrocode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes,and/or objects. The term shared processor encompasses a single processorthat executes some or all code from multiple modules. The term groupprocessor encompasses a processor that, in combination with additionalprocessors, executes some or all code from one or more modules. The termshared memory encompasses a single memory that stores some or all codefrom multiple modules. The term group memory encompasses a memory that,in combination with additional memories, stores some or all code fromone or more modules. The term memory may be a subset of the termcomputer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium does notencompass transitory electrical and electromagnetic signals propagatingthrough a medium, and may therefore be considered tangible andnon-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory tangiblecomputer readable medium include nonvolatile memory, volatile memory,magnetic storage, and optical storage.

The servers, user devices, apparatuses, and methods described in thisapplication may be partially or fully implemented with or by one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more processors. The computerprograms include processor-executable instructions that are stored on atleast one non-transitory tangible computer readable medium. The computerprograms may also include and/or rely on stored data.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in theart. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user device having a computer-readable mediumstoring computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a userdevice, configure the user device to: display a plurality of room typeson a display of the user device; receive a room type selectionindicating a particular room type from the plurality of room typesdisplayed on the display of the user device; display a plurality oftypes of feelings on the display; receive a type of feeling selectionindicating a particular type of feeling from the plurality of types offeelings displayed on the display of the user device; access a lookuptable that associates the plurality of room types and the plurality oftypes of feelings with a plurality of paint colors such that eachpossible combination of room type from the plurality of room types andtype of feeling from the plurality of types of feelings is associatedwith a subset of paint colors from the plurality of paint colorsdetermine the associated subset of paint colors in the lookup table forthe combination of the particular room type and the particular type offeeling; and display the associated subset of paint colors asrecommended paint colors for the combination of the particular room typeand the particular type of feeling on the display of the user device. 2.The user device recited by claim 1, wherein the computer-executableinstructions, when executed by the user device, further configure theuser device to: send the room type selection and the type of feelingselection to a web server that stores the lookup table; and receive theassociated subset of paint colors for the combination of the particularroom type and the particular type of feeling from the web server.
 3. Theuser device recited by claim 1, wherein the computer-executableinstructions, when executed by the user device, further configure theuser device to access the lookup table stored in a memory of the userdevice.
 4. The user device recited by claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions are executable within a web browser ofthe user device.
 5. The user device recited by claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions are included in a mobile applicationthat is executable by the user device.
 6. The user device recited byclaim 1, wherein the user device is at least one of a mobile device anda tablet.
 7. The user device recited by claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions, when executed by the user device,further configure the user device to receive a color selection of atleast one selected paint color from the associated subset of paintcolors for the combination of the particular room type and theparticular type of feeling and to determine and display at least one ofa coordinating color and a coordinating color palette for the at leastone selected paint color.
 8. A method comprising: displaying, with auser device, a plurality of room types on a display of the user device;receiving, with the user device, a room type selection indicating aparticular room type from the plurality of room types displayed on thedisplay of the user device; displaying, with the user device, aplurality of types of feelings on the display; receiving, with the userdevice, a type of feeling selection indicating a particular type offeeling from the plurality of types of feelings displayed on the displayof the user device; accessing, with the user device, a lookup table thatassociates the plurality of room types and the plurality of types offeelings with a plurality of paint colors such that each possiblecombination of room type from the plurality of room types and type offeeling from the plurality of types of feelings is associated with asubset of paint colors from the plurality of paint colors determining,with the user device, the associated subset of paint colors in thelookup table for the combination of the particular room type and theparticular type of feeling; and displaying, with the user device, theassociated subset of paint colors as recommended paint colors for thecombination of the particular room type and the particular type offeeling on the display of the user device.
 9. The method recited byclaim 8, further comprising: sending, with the user device, the roomtype selection and the type of feeling selection to a web server thatstores the lookup table; and receiving, with the user device, theassociated subset of paint colors for the combination of the particularroom type and the particular type of feeling from the web server. 10.The method recited by claim 8, further comprising accessing, with theuser device, the lookup table stored in a memory of the user device. 11.The method recited by claim 8, wherein the user device is at least oneof a mobile device and a tablet.
 12. The method recited by claim 8,further comprising: receiving, with the user device, a color selectionof at least one selected paint color from the associated subset of paintcolors for the combination of the particular room type and theparticular type of feeling; and determining and displaying, with theuser device, at least one of a coordinating color and a coordinatingcolor palette for the at least one selected paint color.
 13. A systemcomprising: a user device in communication with a web server configuredto store a lookup table that associates a plurality of room types and aplurality of types of feelings with a plurality of paint colors suchthat each possible combination of room type from the plurality of roomtypes and type of feeling from the plurality of types of feelings isassociated with a subset of paint colors from the plurality of paintcolors, the user device being configured to execute code that, whenexecuted by the user device, configures the user device to display theplurality of room types on a display of the user device, to receive aroom type selection indicating a particular room type from the pluralityof room types displayed on the display of the user device, to displaythe plurality of types of feelings on the display, to receive a type offeeling selection indicating a particular type of feeling from theplurality of types of feelings displayed on the display of the userdevice, to access the lookup table stored on the web server anddetermine the associated subset of paint colors in the lookup table forthe combination of the particular room type and the particular type offeeling, and to display the associated subset of paint colors asrecommended paint colors for the combination of the particular room typeand the particular type of feeling on the display of the user device.14. The system of claim 13, wherein the code, when executed by the userdevice, further configures the user device to send the room typeselection and the type of feeling selection to the web server and toreceive the associated subset of paint colors for the combination of theparticular room type and the particular type of feeling from the webserver.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the web server is configuredto communicate the lookup table to the user device.
 16. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the web server is further configured to store the codeand to communicate the code to the user device.
 17. The system of claim13, wherein the code is executable by the user device within a webbrowser of the user device.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the codeis included in a mobile application that is executable by the userdevice.